Located in the quaint, up-and-coming village of Bandra, a suburb of West Mumbai, India, the Birdsong Cafe is a recently opened bistro with an all-organic kitchen and bakery, and seating on two stories. Architects Samir Raut and Amit Mayekar of Studio Eight Twenty-Three were asked to design a gathering place that reflects (and blends in) with its surrounding historic neighborhood. In response, they decided to use concrete and wood, materials that bestow a modern sensibility as well as a permanence: "We are vividly fascinated by the quality of both these materials to age in an elegant fashion," say the architects.

Studio Eight Twenty-Three set out to create a space that feels both new and Old-World. Above L: A hand-painted sign. Above R: Round wooden tables, concrete planters, and a mix of seating choices.

Above: The entrance has tall arched windows and louvered shutters with double doors that open the cafe to the street. Leafy plants in concrete planters form a casual green wall.

Above: As you enter the cafe, you immediately notice the moss-green concrete floor. The bakery counter is made of natural-colored concrete cast on site. Chalkboard-painted walls display the menu.

Above: Pictures and descriptions of the food are drawn onto one of the walls.

Above: The main floor has exposed white-washed brick and is furnished with customized simple wooden tables and retro-styled folding chairs, some of them covered in a floral fabric. The cafe's packaging is displayed in an inset wood-framed vitrine.

Above: The architects inserted a small mezzanine made from reclaimed teak; it's used for live performances and as a quiet dining corner.

Above: Dimmable bulbs in customized reclaimed wood holders dance from the ceiling on a grid of hooks.